Kinnon MacKinnon
Assistant Professor
Email: kinnonmk@yorku.ca
Media Requests Welcome
Kinnon R. MacKinnon received his BSW from York University, MSW from Ryerson University, and PhD in Public Health Sciences from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Drawing from critical, interdisciplinary training in gender studies, social work, and public health, Kinnon's program of research investigates the social and structural dimensions of health and social care access (specialization: 2SLGBTQ populations). He has specific interest in tracing how the structural landscape - such as policy and legislative decisions - mediates access to support services in local contexts. Kinnon's practice background includes support group facilitation in the areas of gender-affirming care, and men's body image. Reflecting a transformative vision, he also designs and studies gender-affirming care education aimed to impact change at the practice and policy levels.
Degrees
PhD, University of TorontoMSW, Ryerson University
BSW, York University
BA, Saint Marys University
Research Interests
Current Research Projects
-
Summary:
The Re/DeTrans Canada study is a qualitative, interview-based study led by Dr. Kinnon MacKinnon (Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, York University). The project seeks to build knowledge and supports for detransitioners, retransitioners, people who stop transitioning, and those who experience shifts in gender identity after initiating a gender transition. The full research team is composed of Drs. Alex Abramovich, Hannah Kia, Travis Salway, Ashley Lacombe-Duncan, Lori Ross, along with PhD candidate, Florence Ashley and research assistant, Gabriel Enxuga
Description:Our study objective is to examine how people experience shifts in gender identity, transition and detransition processes (social, legal, medical), and overall healthcare needs. We also aim to develop better guidance for care providers who work with trans, detransitioned, and other gender diverse populations who change the direction of their gender transitions. This project is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (Insight Development).
Start Date:
- Month: Aug Year: 2021
End Date:
- Month: Aug Year: 2023
-
Summary:
This project responds to care providers' needs for information on detransition. The objectives of this project are as follows:
• To identify the psychosocial support needs of people who detransition;
• To develop recommendations for care providers who work in gender-affirming care (e.g., physicians, psychologists and social workers).
This project is funded by a York University SSHRC Explore grant.
Start Date:
- Month: Jun Year: 2021
End Date:
- Month: Jun Year: 2022
MacKinnon, K.R. (2018). “Biopower and the medicalization of gender-variance: A foucauldian analysis of trans subjectivity.” In O. Gozlen (Ed). Current Critical Debates in the Field of Transsexual Studies: In Transition. Oxford, UK: Routledge.
MacKinnon, K.R. (2017). “An introduction to five exceptional trans athletes from around the world” in E. Anderson and A. Travers (Eds), Transgender Athletes in Competitive Sport. New York: Routledge.
MacKinnon, K.R., Gómez-Ramírez, O., Worthington, C., Gilbert, M., & Grace, D. (2021). An institutional ethnography into the political and legislative factors shaping online health service implementation in Ontario, Canada. Critical Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/09581596.2020.1854182
Gomez-Ramirez, O., MacKinnon, K.R., Bannar-Martin, S., Karlsson, M., Haag, D., Worthington, C., Gilbert, M. & Grace, D. (2021). Caught between HIV exceptionalism and health service integration: Making visible the role of public health policy in the scale-up of novel sexual health services. Health & Place, 72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102696
MacKinnon, KR, Kia, H, Rai, N, Abramovich, A & Cheung, JJH (2021). Integrating trans health knowledge through instructional design: preparing learners for a continent – not an island – of primary care with trans people. Primary Care Education, https://doi.org/10.1080/14739879.2021.1882885
MacKinnon, KR, Grewal, R, Tan, DHS, Rousseau, R, Maxwell, J, Walmsley, S, MacPherson, PA, Rachlis, A, Andany, N, Mishra, S, Allen, VG & Burchell, AN. Patient perspectives on the implementation of routinised syphilis screening with HIV viral load testing: Qualitative process evaluation of the Enhanced Syphilis Screening Among HIV-positive Men Trial. BMC Health Services Research (In Press).
MacKinnon, K.R., Mykhalovskiy, E., Worthington, C., Gómez-Ramírez, O., Gilbert, M. & Grace, D. (2021). Pay to skip the line: The political economy of digital testing services for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Social Science & Medicine 268, 113571
Kia H., MacKinnon K.R., Abramovich A. & Bonato S. (2021). Peer support as a protective factor against suicide in trans populations: A scoping review. Social Science and Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114026
MacKinnon, K.R., Ashley, F., Kia, H., Lam, J.H.S., Krakowsky, Y. & Ross, L.E. (2021). Preventing transition "regret": An institutional ethnography of gender-affirming medical care assessment practices in Canada. Social Science & Medicine, 291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114477
MacKinnon, K.R., Guta, A., Voronka, J., Pilling, M., Williams, C.C., Strike, C. & Ross, L.E. (2021). The political economy of peer research: Mapping the possibilities and precarities of paying people for lived experience. British Journal of Social Work. DOI:10.1093/bjsw/bcaa241
MacKinnon, K.R., Kia, H. & Lacombe-Duncan, A. (IN PRESS). Viewpoint: Examining TikTok’s potential for community-engaged, digital knowledge mobilization with equity-seeking groups. Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Kia. H., MacKinnon, K.R. & Coulombe, A. (2021). Where is the “T”? Centering trans voices in social work curriculum content addressing “LGBTQ+” issues. Journal of Social Work Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2021.1969302
MacKinnon, K.R., Ross, L.E., Rojas Gualdron, D. & Ng, S.L. (2020). Introducing an online educational resource to teach health professionals ethical gender-affirming medicine skills: A design thinking project. Perspectives on Medical Education 9, 324-328.
MacKinnon, K.R., Grober, E. & Krakowsky, Y. (2020). Lost in transition?: Addressing the absence of quality surgical outcomes data on gender-affirming surgeries. Canadian Urology Association Journal 14(6), 157-158.
Rowland, P., MacKinnon, K.R., McNaughton, N. (2020). Patient involvement in medical education: To what problem is involvement the solution?. Medical Education. DOI: 10.1111/medu.14200
MacKinnon, K.R., Grace, D., Ng, S.L., Sicchia, S., & Ross, L.E. (2020). “I don’t think they thought I was ready”: How pre-transition assessments create care inequities for trans people with complex mental health issues in Canada. International Journal of Mental Health 49(1), 56-80.
MacKinnon, K.R., Ng, S.L., Grace, D., Sicchia. S. & Ross, L.E. (2019). Protocols as curriculum?: Learning health advocacy skills by working with transgender patients in the context of gender-affirming medicine. Advances in Health Sciences Education 25(1), 7-18.
MacKinnon, K.R. (2018). Pathologising trans people: Exploring the roles of trans patients and medical personnel. Theory in Action 11(4), 74-96.
Caravaca-Morera, J.M., Bennington, M., Williams, C., MacKinnon, K., & Ross, L.E.
(2017). Contemporalis homo sacer: Barriers to accessing healthcare services for trans
populations. Texto Contexto Enferm 26(3), DOI: 10.1590/0104-07072017003710016
Kia, H., MacKinnon, K.R. & Legge, M. (2016). In pursuit of change: Conceptualizing the social work response to LGBTQ microaggressions in health settings. Social Work in Healthcare 55(10), 806-825.
MacKinnon, K.R, Tarasoff, L. A., & Kia, H. (2016). Predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors of trans-positive clinical behavior change: A summary of the literature. International Journal of Transgenderism 17(2), 83-92.
MacKinnon, K.R. (2011). Thinking about queer theory in social work education: A pedagogical (in)query. Canadian Social Work Review 28(1), 139-144.
MacKinnon, K.R., Mykhalovskiy, E., Worthington, C., Gómez-Ramírez, O., Gilbert, M. & Grace, D. (2020). Laboratory services funding & digital HIV/STI testing. Digital Sexual Health Initiative. Fact Sheet. https://dishiresearch.ca/resource/pay-to-skip-the-line-the-political-economy-of-digital-testing-services-for-hiv-and-other-sexually-transmitted-infections-2/
MacKinnon, K.R., Gómez-Ramírez, O., Worthington, C., Gilbert, M. & Grace, D. (2020). Mapping the Structural Context for Future Internet-Based Testing Service Implementation in Ontario. Digital Sexual Health Initiative. Fact sheet. https://dishiresearch.ca/resource/an-institutional-ethnography-of-political-and-legislative-factors-shaping-online-sexual-health-service-implementation-in-ontario-canada/
MacKinnon, K.R. (May 12, 2016). “LGBTQ health research-to-action on the international day against homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia”. DLSPH Student Blog. Invited article. www.dlsph.utoronto.ca
MacKinnon, K.R. (April 20, 2016). “How LGBT fitness can help us overcome collective trauma.” The Advocate. https://www.advocate.com/health/2016/4/20/how-fitness-can-help-us-overcome-collective-trauma
MacKinnon, K.R. (January 29, 2016). “New IOC rules could completely change the game for trans athletes.” The Advocate. https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/1/29/new-ioc-rules-completely-change-game-trans-athletes
MacKinnon, K.R. (June 19, 2015). “From picnics to pride diets: Considering body image for LGBTQ communities.” National Eating Disorder Information Centre. https://nedic.ca/blog/from-picnics-to-pride-diets-considering-body-image-for-lgbtq-communities/
Current Courses
| Term | Course Number | Section | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2022 | AP/SOWK4020 3.0 | O | Issues in the Study of the Welfare State | LECT |
| Winter 2022 | GS/SOWK5450 3.0 | T | Practice Research Paper Seminar | REMT |
Kinnon R. MacKinnon received his BSW from York University, MSW from Ryerson University, and PhD in Public Health Sciences from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Drawing from critical, interdisciplinary training in gender studies, social work, and public health, Kinnon's program of research investigates the social and structural dimensions of health and social care access (specialization: 2SLGBTQ populations). He has specific interest in tracing how the structural landscape - such as policy and legislative decisions - mediates access to support services in local contexts. Kinnon's practice background includes support group facilitation in the areas of gender-affirming care, and men's body image. Reflecting a transformative vision, he also designs and studies gender-affirming care education aimed to impact change at the practice and policy levels.
Degrees
PhD, University of TorontoMSW, Ryerson University
BSW, York University
BA, Saint Marys University
Research Interests
Current Research Projects
-
Summary:
The Re/DeTrans Canada study is a qualitative, interview-based study led by Dr. Kinnon MacKinnon (Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, York University). The project seeks to build knowledge and supports for detransitioners, retransitioners, people who stop transitioning, and those who experience shifts in gender identity after initiating a gender transition. The full research team is composed of Drs. Alex Abramovich, Hannah Kia, Travis Salway, Ashley Lacombe-Duncan, Lori Ross, along with PhD candidate, Florence Ashley and research assistant, Gabriel Enxuga
Description:Our study objective is to examine how people experience shifts in gender identity, transition and detransition processes (social, legal, medical), and overall healthcare needs. We also aim to develop better guidance for care providers who work with trans, detransitioned, and other gender diverse populations who change the direction of their gender transitions. This project is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (Insight Development).
Project Type: FundedRole: Principal investigator
Start Date:
- Month: Aug Year: 2021
End Date:
- Month: Aug Year: 2023
-
Summary:
This project responds to care providers' needs for information on detransition. The objectives of this project are as follows:
• To identify the psychosocial support needs of people who detransition;
• To develop recommendations for care providers who work in gender-affirming care (e.g., physicians, psychologists and social workers).
This project is funded by a York University SSHRC Explore grant.
Project Type: FundedRole: Principal investigator
Start Date:
- Month: Jun Year: 2021
End Date:
- Month: Jun Year: 2022
All Publications
MacKinnon, K.R. (2018). “Biopower and the medicalization of gender-variance: A foucauldian analysis of trans subjectivity.” In O. Gozlen (Ed). Current Critical Debates in the Field of Transsexual Studies: In Transition. Oxford, UK: Routledge.
MacKinnon, K.R. (2017). “An introduction to five exceptional trans athletes from around the world” in E. Anderson and A. Travers (Eds), Transgender Athletes in Competitive Sport. New York: Routledge.
MacKinnon, K.R., Gómez-Ramírez, O., Worthington, C., Gilbert, M., & Grace, D. (2021). An institutional ethnography into the political and legislative factors shaping online health service implementation in Ontario, Canada. Critical Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/09581596.2020.1854182
Gomez-Ramirez, O., MacKinnon, K.R., Bannar-Martin, S., Karlsson, M., Haag, D., Worthington, C., Gilbert, M. & Grace, D. (2021). Caught between HIV exceptionalism and health service integration: Making visible the role of public health policy in the scale-up of novel sexual health services. Health & Place, 72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102696
MacKinnon, KR, Kia, H, Rai, N, Abramovich, A & Cheung, JJH (2021). Integrating trans health knowledge through instructional design: preparing learners for a continent – not an island – of primary care with trans people. Primary Care Education, https://doi.org/10.1080/14739879.2021.1882885
MacKinnon, KR, Grewal, R, Tan, DHS, Rousseau, R, Maxwell, J, Walmsley, S, MacPherson, PA, Rachlis, A, Andany, N, Mishra, S, Allen, VG & Burchell, AN. Patient perspectives on the implementation of routinised syphilis screening with HIV viral load testing: Qualitative process evaluation of the Enhanced Syphilis Screening Among HIV-positive Men Trial. BMC Health Services Research (In Press).
MacKinnon, K.R., Mykhalovskiy, E., Worthington, C., Gómez-Ramírez, O., Gilbert, M. & Grace, D. (2021). Pay to skip the line: The political economy of digital testing services for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Social Science & Medicine 268, 113571
Kia H., MacKinnon K.R., Abramovich A. & Bonato S. (2021). Peer support as a protective factor against suicide in trans populations: A scoping review. Social Science and Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114026
MacKinnon, K.R., Ashley, F., Kia, H., Lam, J.H.S., Krakowsky, Y. & Ross, L.E. (2021). Preventing transition "regret": An institutional ethnography of gender-affirming medical care assessment practices in Canada. Social Science & Medicine, 291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114477
MacKinnon, K.R., Guta, A., Voronka, J., Pilling, M., Williams, C.C., Strike, C. & Ross, L.E. (2021). The political economy of peer research: Mapping the possibilities and precarities of paying people for lived experience. British Journal of Social Work. DOI:10.1093/bjsw/bcaa241
MacKinnon, K.R., Kia, H. & Lacombe-Duncan, A. (IN PRESS). Viewpoint: Examining TikTok’s potential for community-engaged, digital knowledge mobilization with equity-seeking groups. Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Kia. H., MacKinnon, K.R. & Coulombe, A. (2021). Where is the “T”? Centering trans voices in social work curriculum content addressing “LGBTQ+” issues. Journal of Social Work Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2021.1969302
MacKinnon, K.R., Ross, L.E., Rojas Gualdron, D. & Ng, S.L. (2020). Introducing an online educational resource to teach health professionals ethical gender-affirming medicine skills: A design thinking project. Perspectives on Medical Education 9, 324-328.
MacKinnon, K.R., Grober, E. & Krakowsky, Y. (2020). Lost in transition?: Addressing the absence of quality surgical outcomes data on gender-affirming surgeries. Canadian Urology Association Journal 14(6), 157-158.
Rowland, P., MacKinnon, K.R., McNaughton, N. (2020). Patient involvement in medical education: To what problem is involvement the solution?. Medical Education. DOI: 10.1111/medu.14200
MacKinnon, K.R., Grace, D., Ng, S.L., Sicchia, S., & Ross, L.E. (2020). “I don’t think they thought I was ready”: How pre-transition assessments create care inequities for trans people with complex mental health issues in Canada. International Journal of Mental Health 49(1), 56-80.
MacKinnon, K.R., Ng, S.L., Grace, D., Sicchia. S. & Ross, L.E. (2019). Protocols as curriculum?: Learning health advocacy skills by working with transgender patients in the context of gender-affirming medicine. Advances in Health Sciences Education 25(1), 7-18.
MacKinnon, K.R. (2018). Pathologising trans people: Exploring the roles of trans patients and medical personnel. Theory in Action 11(4), 74-96.
Caravaca-Morera, J.M., Bennington, M., Williams, C., MacKinnon, K., & Ross, L.E.
(2017). Contemporalis homo sacer: Barriers to accessing healthcare services for trans
populations. Texto Contexto Enferm 26(3), DOI: 10.1590/0104-07072017003710016
Kia, H., MacKinnon, K.R. & Legge, M. (2016). In pursuit of change: Conceptualizing the social work response to LGBTQ microaggressions in health settings. Social Work in Healthcare 55(10), 806-825.
MacKinnon, K.R, Tarasoff, L. A., & Kia, H. (2016). Predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors of trans-positive clinical behavior change: A summary of the literature. International Journal of Transgenderism 17(2), 83-92.
MacKinnon, K.R. (2011). Thinking about queer theory in social work education: A pedagogical (in)query. Canadian Social Work Review 28(1), 139-144.
MacKinnon, K.R., Mykhalovskiy, E., Worthington, C., Gómez-Ramírez, O., Gilbert, M. & Grace, D. (2020). Laboratory services funding & digital HIV/STI testing. Digital Sexual Health Initiative. Fact Sheet. https://dishiresearch.ca/resource/pay-to-skip-the-line-the-political-economy-of-digital-testing-services-for-hiv-and-other-sexually-transmitted-infections-2/
MacKinnon, K.R., Gómez-Ramírez, O., Worthington, C., Gilbert, M. & Grace, D. (2020). Mapping the Structural Context for Future Internet-Based Testing Service Implementation in Ontario. Digital Sexual Health Initiative. Fact sheet. https://dishiresearch.ca/resource/an-institutional-ethnography-of-political-and-legislative-factors-shaping-online-sexual-health-service-implementation-in-ontario-canada/
MacKinnon, K.R. (May 12, 2016). “LGBTQ health research-to-action on the international day against homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia”. DLSPH Student Blog. Invited article. www.dlsph.utoronto.ca
MacKinnon, K.R. (April 20, 2016). “How LGBT fitness can help us overcome collective trauma.” The Advocate. https://www.advocate.com/health/2016/4/20/how-fitness-can-help-us-overcome-collective-trauma
MacKinnon, K.R. (January 29, 2016). “New IOC rules could completely change the game for trans athletes.” The Advocate. https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/1/29/new-ioc-rules-completely-change-game-trans-athletes
MacKinnon, K.R. (June 19, 2015). “From picnics to pride diets: Considering body image for LGBTQ communities.” National Eating Disorder Information Centre. https://nedic.ca/blog/from-picnics-to-pride-diets-considering-body-image-for-lgbtq-communities/
Current Courses
| Term | Course Number | Section | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2022 | AP/SOWK4020 3.0 | O | Issues in the Study of the Welfare State | LECT |
| Winter 2022 | GS/SOWK5450 3.0 | T | Practice Research Paper Seminar | REMT |
